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“Of course.” But if he says one foul word about Stella, all bets are off.
She scurries back into the bedroom while I join a still fuming Orion, taking a seat in one of the chairs across from the couch.
“I take it she’s who you’ve been seeing?”
Wordlessly, I nod.
“That’s fucked up, man.” He relaxes back into the couch, some of the anger seeping from his body. “How did this even happen?” He clenches his fists, flexing his fingers. “Like, I knew y’all both had stupid little puppy crushes on each other, but—”
“What?” I ask, cutting him off.
“Dude. I’m not an idiot.”
I hold my hands up. “I’m not implying that you are. I’m just… confused.”
“Join the club.” He laughs, but it holds no humor. “Her crush was obvious—like a flashing neon sign, but do you really think I never noticed the soft spot you had for her? The way you always asked me to let her tag along? The way you spent time with her even when I wasn’t around? The way you ignored all of the girls throwing themselves at you? Seriously?”
I chuckle and shrug my shoulders. “I mean, I guess when you say it like that.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“Let’s wait for Stella. She really wanted to be a part of this conversation.”
“Fine.”
We lapse into a tense silence, neither of us willing to give an inch while we wait.
“It seems like y’all are making good progress,” Stella says lightly as she clomps into the room.
“C’mere.” I pat my lap.
She glances at Orion before propping her crutches against the wall and hobbling over to me.
I help support her weight as she lowers herself down onto my lap, and then wrap my arms around her waist, holding her close.
“Don’t you two look cozy,” Orion sneers. He scrubs his hands over his face. “Fuck. This is really hard for me.”
“Do… do you not want us together?” Stella asks, her voice thick.
When he doesn’t immediately reply, Stella’s tears fall.
“I love him, Orion. I love him with all of my heart and soul.”
“Love?” My best friend’s brow quirks. “How long has this been going on?” he asks again.
Stella and I exchange glances, and then she dips her head, signaling me to take lead. “Before I answer that, I want you to know, I never touched her until she was eighteen.”
Orion exhales as loudly as a raging bull.
“Like you mentioned, Stella’s always been in my orbit. There’s always been something special about her. At first, she was just a goofball kid that made me smile, but as she grew up, my feelings changed.”
“How old?” Orion asks through gritted teeth.
“I was fifteen when I confessed how I felt about him,” Stella whispers.
Her brother pinches the bridge of his nose.
I probably should keep this next bit to myself, but decide I might as well go for broke. “I kissed her that day—”
“You what?” In a flash, Orion’s on his feet, pacing the length of my living room. “You put your hands... your mouth on my underage baby sister?”
I slide out from beneath Stella, placing her down on the chair. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?” He advances me, until we’re chest to chest, squaring off in the living room like it’s a WWE ring. “Because I’m having a really tough time understanding any situation in which it would be okay.”
“I love your sister. I. Fucking. Love. Her. And I’m sorry if that’s hard for you to hear, but you better get used to the idea. Because one day, she’s gonna be my wife. I want us to stay friends, but, Orion, if you make me choose...”
“It won’t be me,” he finishes for me, all of his anger leaving his body. “Got it, man.”
“You’re hearing me?”
He shakes his head, his eyes flashing to Stella. “Loud and clear, man. I’ll see myself out.”
“Orion!” Stella tries to follow after him, but isn’t able to keep up on her injured ankle.
“Let him go, Luna.” I cross the room to her and pull her into my arms.
She clings to me, burying her face in the fabric of my shirt. “He’s so angry.”
“He just needs time to adjust.” I speak the words against her hair, tightening my hold on her as she trembles in my arms.
“You can’t.”
“Can’t what?”
She wriggles out of my hold. “You can’t choose me over him. He’s been your best friend for your whole life.”
I step back enough to wipe away her tears and lift her gaze to mine. “And you’re my whole world. Orion will come around, I promise. And if he doesn’t, as shitty as this sounds, I’d rather lose him than you. I love you, Stella. With every ounce of my being, I love you. Until we’re old and gray, I love you. Until the day we die, and in the next life too, I love you.”
